DENVER – Ross Smith put Nos. 21 and 26 MSU Denver ahead with a fifth-inning homer. And then he put the Roadrunners ahead to stay with a walk-off homer to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning.
Smith's heroics gave MSU Denver a 6-5 victory Sunday over Adams State and completed a doubleheader sweep that started with a 9-1 victory. It wrapped up a four-game series sweep as the Roadrunners extended their winning streak to 12 games.
"I wasn't trying to hit a home run," Smith said of his no-doubt game-winner to center field. "I thought, 'You know what, we need baserunners right now. I've got really good hitters behind me. Just get on base."
Smith, who now has 12 homers and 61 RBIs, took two offspeed pitches for balls before connecting on a changeup.
"Once I saw him take those two pitches down, I knew the pitcher would have to bring one up and that Ross would get a good swing on it," MSU Denver coach
Ryan Strain said.
Said Smith: "I was sitting fastball, like I normally do, but I knew he wasn't necessarily going to throw me one. He was throwing sliders and changeups, so I figured he was probably coming back with that, and that's what he did."
Even though the series finale was closer than expected, the Roadrunners were able to improve to 34-8 overall and 19-5 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. They've won 18 of their last 19 games.
"It's hard to win," Strain said. "To win 12 in a row, no matter where you're playing, who you are playing against, it's hard to stay focused and keep winning."
Cam Yuran homered in each game and
Jake Williams also left the yard in the nine-inning opening game, as
Jack Slominski (8-1) turned in another excellent outing – allowing one run on seven hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.
"He was really good," Strain said. "He didn't make any mistakes at all really – left a couple of balls up that they turned into hits. For the most part he had complete control of the game."
Adams State (10-27, 5-15) played with high intensity in the second game, and tied it 4-4 with two runs in the fifth. The damage might have been worse if not for the contributions of reliever
Gabe Austin and shortstop
Gavin Schmeh.
"Gabe did a tremendous job coming in, with the bases loaded and no outs, and just gave up the sacrifice fly and limited the damage and got us out of it," Strain said.
The final out of the inning came a Schmeh, diving to the hole towards third base, fielded a well-struck grounder with a backhand stab, then whipped a strong and on-target off-balance throw for the force at second base for the final out.
"He's a tremendous infielder," Strain said. "He really is as good as it gets. … He made some huge plays today that not many infielders can make. He's got good range, he's got a good glove, and he's got a plus arm."
Once Smith's first homer put the Roadrunners back in front, Strain turned to closer
Eric Cox for a potential two-inning save. But the solid Adams State offense scratched out the tying run in the top of the sixth. Cox (1-2) pitched a scoreless seventh and was the winner when Smith sent everyone home.
"I'm a little frustrated we didn't play better the last game, but you've also got to learn how to win close games," Strain said. "Cox had to make big pitches. We made big plays. And we got big hits."
